Air-veil for gun-sights.



H. H. CUMMINGS.- AIRVVEIL FOR GUN SIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED APB.9, 1905.

1,072,828. Patented Sept. 9,1913.

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HENRY I-I. CUMMINGS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR-VEIL FOR GUN-SIGHTS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY H. CuMM Nes, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and *-State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in-Air-Veils for Gun-Sights,

of which the-following description, in con- '-nection withthe accompanying drawings, is

a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts. i This invention relates to gun sights and the like;'and pertains more particularly to telescope or similar sights used on the guns of naval vessels. 7

One obj ectof the invention, among others,

is to provide protective means for the objective lens of a sighting telescope, to prevent clouding of the lens by smoke or the condensation thereon of moisture, In another aspect the invention may serve to dissipate moisture or smoke tending to fog the telescope.

The character of the invention may be best appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawings which show, merely for purposes of illustration, one of the various embodiments of which the invention is susceptible.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of sighting means exemplified by a telescope, in combination with protective means therefor arranged to pass a current of air across the objective end of the telescope; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the right in the latter figure; Fig. 3, a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, a detail section on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the exemplary sight-' ing means, e. a telescope 5, is mounted upon horizontal trunnions 6, journaled in brackets 7, supported in any desired or practicable relation to the gun 7 which is to be aimed. The objective end of the telescope is at 8. Mounted coaxially with the trunnions 66 is a frame 10 which (Fig; 2) straddles the telescope by arms 11, 11 having on depending lugs trunnion screws 12, 12 seating at their tapered adjacent ends in appropriate apertures in the trunnions 66. The frame 10 has a forwardly projecting arm 14:, having preferably integral therewith a sleeve 15, encircling the objective end of the telescope and having an annular, internal rabbet 16 which fits over and seats Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 9, 1908.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913. Serial No. 425,989.

against the rim of the telescope. The sleeve 15 has a threaded flange 17 upon which is screwed a frusto-conical shell 18. One or both of the arms 11, 11 is hollowed to provide a conduit 20 (see dotted lines Fig. 2)

each extremity of the conduit being threaded at 21 to receive a plug of a preferably flexible pipe 22 which may have a suitablevalve as shown. The conduit 20 communicates with a second conduit 24: extending through the arm 14 of the frame 10, and the conduit 24 communicates at its forward end by a port 26 with an annular chamber 27 between the sleeve 15 and the frustoconical shell 18. i

' The interior face of the shell 18 is preferably frusto-conical; and the end of the sleeve 15 may be also frusto-conical, having a face 29 substantially parallel to the adjacent inner surface of the shell 18. Thus by appropriately adjusting the shell 18 on the threaded flange 17 a frusto-conical aperture, of any practicable size, may be caused to intervene between the shell 18 and sleeve 15. The aperture between the shell 18 and sleeve 15 is intended to supply a passage through which air or other gaseous medium may be rapidly moved in order to agitate the air in the vicinity of the end of the telescope, so as to prevent accumulation of smoke or moisture, or to dissipate already accumulated smoke or moisture, thereby preventing or correct-ing any tendency to befog the telescope and obstruct the sighting operation. For example, the pipe22, may be connected with a source of heavily com pressed air, such as is commonly employed for blowing out guns after firing, and said compressed air traversing the conduits 20 and 24 will pass through the port 26 into the chamber 27, and will be ejected with great force through the preferably restricted air passage between the shell 18 and sleeve 15. The described preferred conformation of the air passage is such that the air will be forced from the chamber 27 in a conical sheet, having substantially the shape indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and focusing at 30. Such a sheet provides what may be aptly called an air veil, which may be substantially impenetrable by dust, smoke, moisture or the like, which would tend tobefog the telescope. Aside from this provision of a protective veil, an air current such as described would serve to dissipate sighting a gun, With means to direct an air already accumulated dust, smoke or the like, Whether it be employed continuously or intermittently.

While the invention explained by reference to the preceding specific disclosure has great and peculiar advantages when applied to a sighting telescope, the scope of the invention-is not necessarily rest-rictedto such application; and the subjoined claims are to be so interpreted, except Where expressly limited by the inclusion of a telescope as an element of the recited combination.

i The invention is not limited, of course, to the specific construction and organization hereinbefore described, since the illustrative apparatus is susceptible of various modifications, additions and omissions Which Will appear to those skilled in the art. Claims:

1. The combination of means to assist in current across said gun sighting means to inclose the same by an air veil.

2. The combination of a telescope With a frame associated therewith having conduits leading to a frusto-conical air passage, con- Copies of this patent may be obtained for structed on the dimensions of a cone having its apex in front of the objective end of the telescope.

3. Thecombination of a telescope with provision for conduits and an air passage constructed to deliver a current of air at the objective end of the telescope, and means to enlarge and restrict said passage. 7 V

4. The combination With a piece of ordnance, of a sighting telescope therefor, and

means constructed to inclose the objective end of the telescope by a WlIId'VBTl.

5. The eombination'vvith a piece of ordnance of a sighting telescope therefor, means to provide a conical Wind veil inclosing objeotiveend of the telescope. v I i 7 6. The combination of means to assist in sighting a gun, with provisionfor inclosing the said means by a Wind veil.; y

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. G. i 

